Getting into J-1 Status

How to change to J-1 status

Leave the United States and apply for a new visa stamp at a U.S. embassy.

Option one: Apply for J-1 status from inside the U.S.

Approval or denial of your Change of Status application can take up to four months. It is critical that you start the application process well in advance of the start of your new program. Timing is especially critical if you will have funding from your department that will require you to work on campus in your first semester. Current processing times can be found by going to the USCIS website.

Request the appropriate form from OIS

Before you can apply for a Change of Status, you must first request a DS-2019 from OIS. Make an appointment with an OIS advisor by calling 812-855-9086 to see if you are eligible.

A statement asserting that you are aware that as a student you may be subjected to a two-year home residency requirement.

Under some circumstances, an I-539 Change of Status application may not be submitted to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) because of restrictions imposed by a previous status. In these cases, travel would be required for the change of status. An OIS advisor can help determine your eligibility for an I-539 Change of Status application.

Get help with your change of status application

OIS can help you through the process. Just call us at 812-855-9086 to make an appointment with an advisor.

You can also retain legal counsel to help with this application and its submission. If you choose this option, you will be required to provide OIS with a copy of your receipt notice and the final adjudication (approval or denial) documents as soon as you receive them.

If your application is approved, your new status will begin on the date indicated by USCIS on your Approval Notice.

Option two: Apply for J-1 Status from ﻿outside the U.S.

Request the appropriate form from OIS

To apply for a new visa stamp from your home country, you must first request a DS-2019 from OIS. Make an appointment with an OIS advisor by calling 812-855-9086 to see if you are eligible.

A copy of the passport identity pages for any dependents on your record

Admission letter from the Office of International Services

Once you have assembled the appropriate documents, contact OIS for iStart access. Once it is granted, you can request your DS-2019 using iStart.

Apply for a new visa

After you have obtained your DS-2019, apply for the visa stamp at the U.S. consulate or embassy in your home country. If you’re unsure where your embassy is, see this list.

You can learn more about applying for a visa in the J-1 student section. See also the U.S. Department of State’s website on information for nonimmigrants present in the United States, and visiting Canada or Mexico.

Once you’ve re-entered the United States using your new J-1 visa and DS-2019, your new status will take effect.